- Trump Announces Capture of Venezuela’s President Maduro After Overnight U.S. Strike
- Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and removed from Venezuela
- Senator Mike Lee of Utah questioned the constitutional basis for the strikes
President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country following a large-scale United States military strike that rocked Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, before dawn.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Trump disclosed the dramatic development in a post on his Truth Social account shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET, claiming that the operation was carried out successfully in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies.
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According to him, Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and removed from Venezuela, with further details promised at a news conference later on Saturday.
The announcement came hours after multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported across Caracas in the early hours of the third day of 2026. At least 7 blasts were heard, sending residents fleeing into the streets amid fear and confusion. Videos verified by international media showed flashes of light, smoke plumes and tracer fire illuminating the night sky over the city.
Venezuela’s government swiftly accused the United States of launching attacks on civilian and military installations, describing the operation as an “imperialist attack.” In a statement, authorities urged citizens to mobilise and declared a state of external disturbance, activating national defence plans and expanding the role of the armed forces.
While Trump claimed Maduro had been captured, Venezuelan officials did not immediately confirm his whereabouts, creating uncertainty over who was in control of the country. Parts of Caracas were left without electricity, though traffic was reported moving freely in some areas hours after the attack.
“The whole ground shook. We heard explosions and planes,” said Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker, describing the moments after the blasts.
In response to the unfolding situation, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration imposed an immediate ban on U.S. commercial and private flights over Venezuelan airspace and nearby Curaçao, citing safety risks linked to ongoing military activity. The U.S. Embassy also issued an alert advising American citizens in Venezuela to shelter in place.
The strike follows months of escalating pressure by Washington on the Maduro administration. The Trump administration has accused the Venezuelan leader of narco-terrorism and has intensified military operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, including repeated strikes on vessels alleged to be involved in drug trafficking. Since September, at least 35 boats have reportedly been targeted, with a death toll of no fewer than 115 people.
Maduro has consistently denounced the U.S. actions as an attempt to force regime change and gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. In a prerecorded interview aired earlier in the week, he accused Washington of seeking to destabilise his government, even as Venezuela said it remained open to negotiations on combating drug trafficking.
In the United States, the operation sparked immediate debate. Senator Mike Lee of Utah questioned the constitutional basis for the strikes, noting the absence of congressional authorisation for the use of military force. U.S. officials said key congressional committees had not been formally notified at the time of the operation.
International reactions were still unfolding, but allies of Caracas, including Cuba and Iran, condemned the strikes, with Iranian state media airing footage of explosions in the Venezuelan capital.
As the situation continues to evolve, uncertainty surrounds Venezuela’s leadership, the fate of President Maduro, and whether further U.S. military actions are imminent.
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